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  • Atiku a statesman turned salesman – Onoh

    Atiku a statesman turned salesman – Onoh

    President Bola Tinubu’s former spokesman in the South East, Denge. Dr Josef Onoh has taken a swipe at former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar over his alleged comments aimed at the President.

    Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election had said that President Tinubu has effectively mortgaged Nigeria’s future to himself, family and associates to the extent that even after President Tinubu leaves office, it would be nearly impossible for the nation to break free from his shackles.

    Atiku said: “Just as Alpha Beta, Primero and others act as Tinubu’s proxies in Lagos, managing critical sectors and generating revenue for him and his family, he has begun to replicate this at the federal level.”

    But Onoh in a swift reaction described Atiku as a salesman who presided over Nigeria’s Privatisation programme and made millions of Nigerians jobless.

    Onoh said that Atiku’s comments was misleading and aimed at generating resentment for the President and members of his family, adding that Atiku is the forerunner of the current hardship and poverty in Nigeria when he mortgaged Nigeria’s future to companies of his cronies and associates that robbed the country of her assets.

    “Let me take His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the world back in time and history of the atrocities of Atiku and how he crippled a nation that President Tinubu with no single fault of his inherited a nation sitting on dynamite. Let’s not forget Atiku was in charge of the economy and former President Obasanjo gave him free hand until the Galaxy Backbone scandal happened.

    FEDERAL SECRETARIAT IKOYI
    “In 2006, the Federal Secretariat Ikoyi, was acquired by Babalakin’s Resort Ltd. A 15 storey prime asset overgrown with weeds from Atiku and OBJ through a Development Lease Agreement (DLA) for N7.2 Billion. A Court asked Buhari to pay N54 Billion to Babalakin for that blunder.

    “The DLA, dated October 10, 2006, granted Babalakin Resort Ltd a 99-years lease to redevelop the Federal Secretariat complex, which OBJ & Atiku had abandoned for 7 years into 480 luxury apartments. This was on the eve of their departure from government. The transaction was one for the road.

    “The DLA hit the rocks when the Lagos State government in the interest of the public indicated willingness in acquiring the Federal Secretariat complex. LASG insisted it should be accorded the right of first refusal since LASG is the issuing Authority of the C of O, coupled with other reasons.

    “In 2002, the first three years of the Obasanjo/Atiku, manufacturing accounted for 6% of GDP. Nigeria’s GDP fell by half for the first time in 20 years. This was the year all textile factories in Nigeria closed down and unemployment was 28% within the formal sector alone!!

    “In 2002, the United Nations estimated that 70% of Nigerians live below the poverty line compared to 48.5% in 1998 under military rule. Life expectancy fell from 54yrs to 51yrs. Two-fifth of every child below age 5 were malnourished and only 50% of the 128Million Nigerians have access to clean water.

    “NigerDock is the largest ship fabrication yard in the West Africa sub region. When it was sold, its Ex-MD Engr. Nkpubre Okon, openly stated how ‘Mr. Job Creator’ ignored the Transport Ministry then to open a bid for NigerDock.

    “Atiku’s preferred bidder, ‘Global Energy’ that agreed to increase NigerDock’s workforce from 4,800 to 6,000 as part of privatization agreement dismissed 2,200 immediately it took ownership. Jagal Group that took over after Global Energy lost out on power play also sacked 1,400.

    “Nigeria Port Authority reform was purely contrived to grab landed properties. 10,000 workers were sacked and 133 bids opened for Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) properties consisting of 68 properties in Apapa, 28 houses in Ikoyi. The highest reserved bid was for a property in Ikoyi fixed then at N390.4 Million.

    NIGERIA RAILWAY
    “How can His Excellency Atiku Abubakar forget how 7000 railway workers were sacked in 2005 without compensation to reduce its workforce to 6,300? Another 1,260 were fired in 2006. When ATIKU and their administration were leaving in 2007, they left N5 Billion in unpaid Railway pension arrears.

    “Nigeria Airways and their houses in GRA Ikeja, what happened to them? Then owned by the Nigeria Airways and all now sold to whom? Nigeria RE. The biggest reinsurance company in Africa who bought it? NICON Insurance who bought it? NITEL was sold for peanuts and killed by them so that their investment in AIRTEL, MTN, GLO, etc will yield dividends. NITEL House, one of the tallest in Marina was sold cheap to a former Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    Read Also: Tinubu returns after brief work stay in France

    “What is the Status of National Stadium Surulere? Millions of Naira was budgeted for refurbishment by the sports ministry, yet there is nothing to show. Compare that stadium to Lagos State owned Teslim Balogun stadium and the difference is clear.

    “Nigerian National Shipping line; where are the ships? They disappeared between 1999-2015 maybe that’s what encouraged Nigeria Air to disappear in the immediate past administration that President Tinubu is currently battling to ensure it appears. NEPA after Obasanjo spent $16 billion, they broke down NEPA to several units and sold it to themselves and NEPA is still not efficient while Atiku’s Mikano Generators are powering Nigeria & her businesses!

    “Atiku sold Port Harcourt Refinery to their cronies in 2007 and President Yar’Adua reversed it because it wasn’t in the interest of the nation.

    “The Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria AMCON, the company that was set up to help the rich buy their debts, once alleged that 350 Nigerians (out of 200 million citizens) are responsible for 80% of AMCON’s N5.4 trillion debt portfolio. The corporation also pointed out that, out of the millions of BVN numbers with the banks, only 100 BVNs collect 60% of bank lending. And this has left the banks with 13,000 bad loans worth 5.6 trillion borrowed by “big men” who are now fighting to remove this administration so that they won’t ever pay their debts!

    “As Head of National Council on Privatization (NCP), from 1999, Atiku dug Nigeria’s economic grave for today’s extreme poverty and unemployment. There were over 600 federal assets when Atiku’s NCP started selling. Atiku should tell Nigerians who bought what and what was left for the country when he left power in 2007.

    “To whom did Atiku sell the following companies:
    NAFCON
    Eleme Petrochemical
    Daily Times
    Ughelli Power
    Egbin Power
    NICON Insurance
    ALSCON
    Transcorp Hilton Hotel
    NICON Luxury Hotel
    Sunti Sugar Ltd
    NetCom House
    Bacita Sugar Ltd
    MM2

    “In 2007, Onigbolo Cement operating at 500,000 tons per annum was sold to Dangote at N1.7Bn. May I remind H.E ATIKU ABUBAKAR of Senate public hearing of August, 2011 which succinctly captures how Atiku through retinue of cohorts, fronts, shell companies, ring fenced over 70% of FG’s assets through a brazen daylight robbery privatization that he supervised. What I stated isn’t sensational. Its real life facts and all the Senators are alive today.

    “The 2011 privatization Senate committee was made up of Senator Ahmed Lawan – Chairman, Senators Babafemi Ojudu, Philip Aduda, Mohammed Ndume, Ifeanyi Okowa, (I’m surprised he accepted to be his running mate in 2023), Hope Uzodinma and Mohammadu Magoro.

    “Let’s look at Aluminum Smelting Company, ALSCON, which Atiku privatized. ALSCON, which Nigeria built with $3.2 billion, was sold to a Russian firm, Russal, for $130million. As of the time of sale, ALSCON had received $120million for the dredging of Imo River, but it was never done. When the Senate Sitting of August, 2011 asked the Russian company the whereabouts of the $120million dredging money, the company’s then Deputy Managing Director, Vitaly Kuzrestov, said that the money has been used for Environment Impact Assessment.”

    “The Federal Government’s Five percent share in Eleme Petrochemical worth USD27 million was never presented at the National Council on Privatization before it was sold to Indorama. Indorama recovered this amount selling Polyethylene and Urea to the entire West Africa sub-region in just 14 months.

    “The Atikulated Business Theory is a process of selling to yourself government assets that leaves millions in penury, to set his personal businesses that provide for a few. Atiku didn’t employ the few hundreds he employed because he likes them, he needs them to work to preserve what he took from the Government that mortgaged our future.

    “A man who supervised sales of over 145 federal investments as a vice president, without a thought for the future and today he dares accuse president Bola Tinubu of mortgaging our future. In the words of H.E Peter Obi, if Nigerians are in doubt of all that I’ve said, they should ‘Go and verify!’

    “To H.E. Atiku Abubakar, in the Christian bible the book of John chapter 8: verse 32 says ‘And now you know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ Learn to be a statesman rather than a salesman.”

  • Atiku: masses’ defender

    Atiku: masses’ defender

    The Presidency, via Bayo Onanuga, presidential special adviser on Information and Strategy, had every reason to call out former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, for playing to the gallery at a period of great national angst.

    Teflon Atiku!  He proved that yet again by conflating — to gain cheap political points — peaceful protesters with violent looters. 

    With that emotive premise, he blamed the security agencies, praised by many for their even-handed handling of that explosive, yet delicate challenge, for “use of lethal force against peaceful civilian protesters.”  Hollow claim!  That was a dangerous mob.

    Were he commander-in-chief, what would he have the security people do, faced with ignorant, violent rioters, wielding cudgels and sundry weapons, waving the Russian flag?

    Atiku, the great defender of the masses, feels good about himself.  Yeah, that was brilliant, if cynical, politicking; and he must pat himself on the back, like the tortoise that fell from the high Iroko tree, and praised itself, even if no one else did.

    But look closely at the former Vice President.  All you see is a cheap politician.  The choice of a statesman, befitting his former high office that gifted him the second highest national honour of GCFR?  That is gone — or was it ever there?  Was it just a mirage with glow and sheen, but was only a mere facade?

    At election time, Atiku failed the “nationalist” test he had always postured.  When he broke PDP’s unwritten rule to cede the Presidency to the South, he declared himself the official “northern” candidate; and told every northerner to vote for him.  Blood, after all, is thicker than water! 

    But he forgot that power greed of his made him and Peter Obi cancel out each other, with both comically claiming they “won” after the harm had been done!

    Read Also: NAF strikes destroy 13 illegal refineries, 10 overhead tanks in Rivers

    At the protests, in which Atiku rallied for his riotous urchins — his blessed “peaceful protesters”, the irony was completely lost on him that he bore part-responsibility for how the North has turned out, underscored by those horror riots.

    He was Vice President for eight years.  During that time, Nigeria had the second oil boom: humongous earnings from exported crude.  But when he and his principal, former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, were not shelling out US$ 12 billion to buy out a US$ 18 billion debts, they were fighting themselves to the virtual death; and building for selves private universities, when the federal public ones in their care rotted away.

    Did Atiku for a second pause to think, about a possible changed scenario, had their government sank that US$ 12 billion into infrastructure, physical and social, to drive the economy?  If they had done that, would his native North have remained this bastion of poverty, hopelessness and squalor that just exploded?

    Let someone tell this to the ex-Vice President.  It’s legitimate to play politics.  But playing a cynical one, at critical national junctures, is politics pushed too far.  That sucks, yet it aptly captured his conduct during these last riots.  Shame!

  • Atiku as an endangered specie

    Atiku as an endangered specie

    Sam Omatseye’s article, brimming with vitriol and sanctimonious posturing, demands a rebuttal rooted in truth and literary eloquence. Omatseye, in his misguided zeal to malign Atiku Abubakar, reveals more about his own biases and mercenary penmanship than about the man he seeks to discredit. It is time to set the record straight and highlight the strengths of Atiku Abubakar, a statesman and an endangered species whose vision and dedication to Nigeria’s unity and progress far surpass the myopic self-interest Omatseye attributes to him.

    The Chess Player and the Strategist

    Omatseye derides Atiku for seeing himself as a chess player, implying a lack of humility. Yet, in the intricate game of politics, the ability to strategize and anticipate moves is paramount. Atiku’s approach is not one of vanity, but of calculated foresight and a deep understanding of Nigeria’s complex socio-political landscape. Unlike the unnamed politician, presumably Bola Tinubu, who flaunted his power with a self-deprecating quip, Atiku’s humility lies in his persistent efforts to build bridges across Nigeria’s diverse ethnic and religious divides.

    Visits and Symbolism: A Misguided Allegory

    Omatseye’s allegorical comparisons of Atiku’s visits to historical betrayals and sinister handshakes are a testament to his propensity for hyperbole. The handshake between Atiku and Buhari is not a clandestine plot but a public display of his commitment to national unity. Atiku’s visits are not sneaky or deceitful, like Odysseus returning in disguise, but open gestures of reconciliation and dialogue.

    Misplaced Criticism of Political Alliances

    Omatseye’s insinuation that Atiku’s alliances are opportunistic ignores the political realities of Nigeria. Politics, by its very nature, involves the forging of alliances (and Omatseye needs to be reminded of alliances of his paymaster that led to the formation of the APC). Atiku’s partnership with figures like Nasir el-Rufai is not a sign of duplicity, but a pragmatic effort to unite various factions for the greater good. The allegation that Atiku exploits ethnic sentiments is ironic coming from a Tinubu apologist, considering Tinubu’s notorious manipulation of ethnic and regional loyalties to consolidate power.

    The North and Atiku’s Legacy

    The critique that Atiku only remembers the north when seeking votes is baseless. Atiku’s investments in manufacturing, agriculture, banking, education, healthcare, and infrastructure, particularly in the north, are well-documented. The American University of Nigeria, founded by Atiku, stands as a testament to his philantrophy and commitment to providing quality education and fostering development in the region. In contrast, Tinubu’s legacy in Lagos, marred by allegations of corruption and cronyism, offers little to commend.

    Poverty and Development: A Flawed Narrative

    Omatseye’s selective presentation of poverty statistics in the north is a disingenuous attempt to lay the blame at Atiku’s feet. Poverty in the region is a multifaceted issue exacerbated by years of neglect by successive governments. Atiku’s efforts, though significant, cannot single-handedly rectify decades of systemic challenges. Moreover, Omatseye conveniently overlooks the socio-economic disparities that persist in Lagos, Tinubu’s stronghold, despite his years of governance.

    Intellectual Posturing and Misappropriation

    Omatseye’s invocation of intellectual heavyweights like Michel Foucault and Zadie Smith to critique Atiku’s appeal to northern sentiments is misplaced. Foucault’s exploration of power dynamics and Smith’s discourse on identity could equally be applied to critique Tinubu’s divisive politics. Atiku’s vision, in contrast, seeks to transcend prefabricated identities and foster a cohesive national identity.

    A Dangerous Politician or a Visionary Leader?

    Labeling Atiku as the most dangerous politician, second only to Peter Obi, is a gross mischaracterization. Atiku’s political career is marked by his advocacy for restructuring Nigeria, promoting decentralization, and empowering local governments. His vision for Nigeria is one of inclusive growth and sustainable development, a stark contrast to the status quo of political patronage and centralization championed by Tinubu.

    In conclusion, Sam Omatseye’s article is a tapestry of half-truths and unfounded allegations woven together with the thread of bias. Atiku Abubakar’s strengths lie in his strategic acumen, his commitment to national unity, and his tangible contributions to Nigeria’s development. Omatseye’s diatribe, far from discrediting Atiku, exposes the hollowness of his own arguments and the mercenary nature of his pen. It is time for Nigerians to see through the smokescreen of political propaganda and recognize the genuine leadership and vision that Atiku Abubakar offers. As Ralph Waldo Emerson aptly said, “A great man is always willing to be little,” and it is in this spirit of humble service that Atiku seeks to lead Nigeria to a brighter future.

    Ibe is a Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007) and Presidential candidate of the PDP (2023).

  • Atiku as an endangered specie

    Atiku as an endangered specie

    • By Paul Ibe

    Sam Omatseye’s article, brimming with vitriol and sanctimonious posturing, demands a rebuttal rooted in truth and literary eloquence. Omatseye, in his misguided zeal to malign Atiku Abubakar, reveals more about his own biases and mercenary penmanship than about the man he seeks to discredit. It is time to set the record straight and highlight the strengths of Atiku Abubakar, a statesman and an endangered species whose vision and dedication to Nigeria’s unity and progress far surpass the myopic self-interest Omatseye attributes to him.

    The Chess Player and the Strategist

    Omatseye derides Atiku for seeing himself as a chess player, implying a lack of humility. Yet, in the intricate game of politics, the ability to strategize and anticipate moves is paramount. Atiku’s approach is not one of vanity, but of calculated foresight and a deep understanding of Nigeria’s complex socio-political landscape. Unlike the unnamed politician, presumably Bola Tinubu, who flaunted his power with a self-deprecating quip, Atiku’s humility lies in his persistent efforts to build bridges across Nigeria’s diverse ethnic and religious divides.

    Visits and Symbolism: A Misguided Allegory

    Omatseye’s allegorical comparisons of Atiku’s visits to historical betrayals and sinister handshakes are a testament to his propensity for hyperbole. The handshake between Atiku and Buhari is not a clandestine plot but a public display of his commitment to national unity. Atiku’s visits are not sneaky or deceitful, like Odysseus returning in disguise, but open gestures of reconciliation and dialogue.

    Misplaced Criticism of Political Alliances

    Omatseye’s insinuation that Atiku’s alliances are opportunistic ignores the political realities of Nigeria. Politics, by its very nature, involves the forging of alliances (and Omatseye needs to be reminded of alliances of his paymaster that led to the formation of the APC). Atiku’s partnership with figures like Nasir el-Rufai is not a sign of duplicity, but a pragmatic effort to unite various factions for the greater good. The allegation that Atiku exploits ethnic sentiments is ironic coming from a Tinubu apologist, considering Tinubu’s notorious manipulation of ethnic and regional loyalties to consolidate power.

    The North and Atiku’s Legacy

    The critique that Atiku only remembers the north when seeking votes is baseless. Atiku’s investments in manufacturing, agriculture, banking, education, healthcare, and infrastructure, particularly in the north, are well-documented. The American University of Nigeria, founded by Atiku, stands as a testament to his philantrophy and commitment to providing quality education and fostering development in the region. In contrast, Tinubu’s legacy in Lagos, marred by allegations of corruption and cronyism, offers little to commend.

    Read Also: Obasanjo parleys Southeast Govs on Nnamdi Kanu

    Poverty and Development: A Flawed Narrative

    Omatseye’s selective presentation of poverty statistics in the north is a disingenuous attempt to lay the blame at Atiku’s feet. Poverty in the region is a multifaceted issue exacerbated by years of neglect by successive governments. Atiku’s efforts, though significant, cannot single-handedly rectify decades of systemic challenges. Moreover, Omatseye conveniently overlooks the socio-economic disparities that persist in Lagos, Tinubu’s stronghold, despite his years of governance.

    Intellectual Posturing and Misappropriation

    Omatseye’s invocation of intellectual heavyweights like Michel Foucault and Zadie Smith to critique Atiku’s appeal to northern sentiments is misplaced. Foucault’s exploration of power dynamics and Smith’s discourse on identity could equally be applied to critique Tinubu’s divisive politics. Atiku’s vision, in contrast, seeks to transcend prefabricated identities and foster a cohesive national identity.

    A Dangerous Politician or a Visionary Leader?

    Labeling Atiku as the most dangerous politician, second only to Peter Obi, is a gross mischaracterization. Atiku’s political career is marked by his advocacy for restructuring Nigeria, promoting decentralization, and empowering local governments. His vision for Nigeria is one of inclusive growth and sustainable development, a stark contrast to the status quo of political patronage and centralization championed by Tinubu.

    In conclusion, Sam Omatseye’s article is a tapestry of half-truths and unfounded allegations woven together with the thread of bias. Atiku Abubakar’s strengths lie in his strategic acumen, his commitment to national unity, and his tangible contributions to Nigeria’s development. Omatseye’s diatribe, far from discrediting Atiku, exposes the hollowness of his own arguments and the mercenary nature of his pen. It is time for Nigerians to see through the smokescreen of political propaganda and recognize the genuine leadership and vision that Atiku Abubakar offers. As Ralph Waldo Emerson aptly said, “A great man is always willing to be little,” and it is in this spirit of humble service that Atiku seeks to lead Nigeria to a brighter future.

    Ibe is a Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007) and Presidential candidate of the PDP (2023).

  • Atiku, the Minna and Daura visits and 2027

    Atiku, the Minna and Daura visits and 2027

    Whatever anyone thinks of the Minna and Daura trips of former vice president Atiku Abubakar, he is unmoved. On June 19, according to his own post on X (Twitter), he merely paid Sallah visits to former military rulers Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar in Minna, and on June 22 to ex-president Muhammadu Buhari in Daura. Expatiating a little further, Alhaji Atiku’s aide, Paul Ibe, described the Daura, Katsina State, trip as a condolence visit to the family of former governor Lawan Kaita, with a detour to ex-president Buhari’s residence. There is no consensus on what the visits were all about, especially in light of the high-powered retinue that accompanied him on the three trips, the Daura visit being the most notable. However, consensus, if not common sense, is gradually growing that the visits were chiefly political, with an eye on Presidential poll 2027.

    Alhaji Atiku‘s Daura visit was in company with former Sokoto State governor Aminu Tambuwal and former Adamawa State governor Jibrilla Bindow. A few newspapers quoted some unnamed sources close to the former vice president as suggesting that the visits were strategic political moves towards Poll 2027. The former vice president would scoff at anyone describing the visits as strategic. But realpolitik? Perhaps. For the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it was really an open, unapologetic, in-your-face visit. He is unbothered by however the visit is canonised or draped in conspiracy. He was not really a fan of ex-president Buhari with whom he fell out in 2017, making scathing remarks about his first term and leadership competence. And he had once brutally outplayed Gen. Babangida in a 2010 PDP shadow primary to pick a consensus aspirant for the North towards the 2011 presidential election. Despite the controversy and misgivings about what Alhaji Atiku’s 2024 Sallah visits were all about, it can be safely assumed that they have political undertones.

    The former vice president is all about ambition without tactics. He does not pick his fights well, burns his bridges without reflection, and lacks both the guile and strategy to upstage his opponents in national polls. He has contested the presidency many times without success. In 2003, while still vice president, he scorched the snake but didn’t kill it, and he paid dearly for his vacillations. His best chance was last year’s poll, but he was pigheaded about his choices, and again paid a huge price. No candidate ever snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as brilliantly as he did in the 2023 presidential poll. It was clear he had no great footing in the PDP before the poll, having earlier traipsed around other parties before retracing his steps in the nick of time. Now, he has seemed to master the art of conducting opposition politics without doing anything to heal the rifts in his party or even repair the party’s conservative platform, or imbue it with a coherent ideology consistent with his own eclectic ideas of running organisations, sustaining personal relationships, and ruling a country.

    It is his right to run for the presidency at any age, even after crossing the nonagenarian mark. But if he ever hopes to win, there are a few basics he must respect. One is loyalty to party and respect for its platform. Two is cobbling together a network of contacts and allies in nearly all of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. And three is developing the intuition for victory. Alhaji Atiku has so far been unable to remedy his failings in these three significant areas, and now he has embarked on junkets to former leaders’ houses in the hope of securing their endorsements or at least acknowledgements. It is unlikely the three former leaders he visited a week and more ago will endorse him. One or two may okay his ambition privately, but they won’t risk it openly because it would be impolitic. Two years ago, Gen Babangida, waxing lyrical as they say, wrote off Alhaji Atiku as too old to run or win. The aspirant will be 80 at the next poll, and is already languid and shuffling. Who will endorse him?

    Read Also: Atiku’s plan to unseat Tinubu in 2027, mere wishful thinking – DOJ

    Gen Abubakar, having secured an uncanny reputation for making the right leadership choices, especially following his smart and rapid transition programme culminating in the 1999 elections, has patented the art of running with the hare and hunting with the hounds. Now ensconced in a national committee for peace, he is unlikely to be of any significant help to the former vice president, preferring to stay above the fray where he will keep nurturing his dignity as a sage. Ex-president Buhari has long memory; he rarely forgets slights, not to say wholehearted insults and attacks, nor does he easily forgive. He has learnt to be accommodating, even playing politics and associating with former enemies, as his presidency showed; but if it rests on him alone, he will heartily withhold his support for a traducer as remorseless and Machiavellian as Alhaji Atiku. Besides, despite enormous pressure, and regardless of his considerable waffling, the former president managed to resist the temptation to side with one aspirant or the other before the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary in 2022. He was unsure of everything and anything, and would not commit himself. Worse, he ended up being apathetic before and during the 2023 presidential race, occasionally letting himself be beguiled by some other candidates, including, surprisingly and secretly, Alhaji Atiku. He will be a worse ditherer now. Having got his fingers burnt once, he won’t let it happen a second time. He has only one lifetime.

    Overall, Alhaji Atiku is letting his primordial politics show up early in all its ugly details again. He made recourse to ethnic politics in the last presidential poll, in company with Senator Tambuwal, and in deep antipathy towards party chieftains like former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike. Incredibly, he is again courting northern leaders in a display of regional politicking that illustrates the leitmotif of his politics, not to say his ethnic exceptionalism which made him bitterly resentful of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu victory in the last polls. He is rumoured to be inclined to running for the presidency in 2027 with ex-governor Peter Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate who emblematised religious politics. There are many errors Alhaji Atiku should correct before the next poll, assuming his ambition is not thwarted before then. But he won’t pay attention. Instead, he will scour the hottest part of hell to cobble together what he thinks will be a winning formula or coalition. As far as he is concerned, however, every such formula or coalition is a chimera.

  • Atiku’s plan to unseat Tinubu in 2027, mere wishful thinking – DOJ

    Atiku’s plan to unseat Tinubu in 2027, mere wishful thinking – DOJ

    A Tinubu support group, the Disciples of Jagaban (DOJ), has described the recent visit of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar to former presidents, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Muhammadu Buhari, which was speculated to be part of his 2027 moves, as an exercise in futility.

    DOJ described Atiku’s latest romance with the former presidents as a vein pursuit of the surreal, an unrealistic endeavour, and another fruitless journey that would certainly end in disappointment.

    In a statement by its national coordinator, Abdulhakeem Adegoke Alawuje, the Disciples of Jagaban said that Atiku needs to be told that all other major opposition politicians are fully aware that the return of Tinubu in 2027 is not negotiable.

    According to Alawuje, “Obviously, Atiku and his handlers have forgotten that power comes only from God and not through the manipulative tendencies of individuals even as they try to mislead the citizens.

    “Though the details of his meetings with former Presidents remain sketchy, feelers are that the visit may not be unconnected with the 2027 presidential election. If this is indeed true, then Atiku Abubakar must be told in clear terms that 2027 is not negotiable as far as President Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu is concerned.

    Read Also: Atiku condoles with late Kaita’s family, visits Buhari

    “Tinubu is a staunch democratic who intentionally refused to disclose all the accumulated crisis of over three decades, he met in the office, but he said, I am fully aware of what I am coming to clear, before I ask Nigerian to vote for me, being a straight forward leader, made some Nigerian sifting all the blame of the present situation on him.

    “It is in this regard that, Disciples of Jagaban is calling on Nigerians to start sympathizing with the former Vice President as Nigerians collectively send him on a political hiatus. His latest moves only show the level of desperation in him.

    “Nigerians need not waste their time and resources in listening to the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar because he has nothing more to offer. Being a former vice president, he deserves some respect and regard from us. So, the best we can offer him at the moment is to banish him permanently from the political scene.

    “His latest permutations to unseat Tinubu in 2027: and the list of the ex-presidents he had visited within a week is getting seriously alarming. Even if he decides to visit either Satan or Pharaoh, nothing can change Almighty God’s decision on Tinubu.

    “We will always remind the former Vice President on his debate at Arewa House before the 2023 general election, where he publicly said the Northerners don’t need either Yoruba or Ibos to produce a president

    “This was not the vice president we used to know. His behaviour of late has shown that he is ready to set the country on the part of anarchy to achieve his ambition,” Alawuje stated.

  • Atiku’s plan to unseat Tinubu in 2027 wishful thinking, says support group

    Atiku’s plan to unseat Tinubu in 2027 wishful thinking, says support group

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been urged to perish any thought to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

    A Tinubu support group under the auspices of Disciples of Jagaban said it made the call in reaction to Atiku’s reported to visits to former military President Ibrahim

    Babangida and ex-President Muhammadu Buhari last week.

    According to a statement by the National Coordinator of DOJ, Comrade Abdulhakeem Adegoke Alawuje, in Abuja, Atiku’s latest moves only succeeded in showing the level of desperation of the former Vice President.

    Alawuje said: “The former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, is in the news again, as he embarked on a political sojourn that saw him visit two former presidents last week.

    “Though the details of the meetings Atiku held with former military president Ibrahim Babangida and ex-President Muhammadu Buhari remain sketchy, feelers are the visit may not be unconnected with the 2027 presidential election.

    “If this is indeed true, then Atiku Abubakar must be told in clear terms that 2027 is not negotiable as far as President Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu is concerned.

    “Tinubu is a staunch democrat who intentionally refused to disclose all the accumulated crisis of over three decades,  he met in the office, but he said, I am fully aware of what I am coming to clear, before I ask Nigerian to vote for me, being a straight forward leader, made some Nigerian sifting all the blame of the present situation on him.

    “Atiku needs to be told that this is an undisputed fact, with all the major opposition politicians fully aware that the return of Tinubu in 2027 is not negotiable.

    Read Also: Atiku condoles with late Kaita’s family, visits Buhari

    “Atiku’s latest romance with the former presidents is a vein pursuit of the surreal,  an unrealistic endeavor for which Nigerians are there to tell him the bitter truth, the necessity for him not to embark on another fruitless journey that would certainly end in another disappointment.

    “Obviously, Atiku and his handlers have forgotten that power comes only from God and not through the manipulative tendencies of individuals even as they try to mislead the citizens.”

    The DOJ called on Nigerians to start sympathizing with the former Vice President “as Nigerians collectively send him on a political hiatus.”

    Alawuje added: “The level of political frustration in Atiku is increasing by the seconds, and it has resulted in a dream that can never come through.

    “Nigerians need not waste their time and resources in listening to the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, because he has nothing more to give.

    “Being a former vice president, he deserves some respect and regards from us. The best we can offer him at the moment is to barnish him permanently from the political scene.”

    He said that the more

    the former Vice President realises that he can never rule this nation, the more he gets  frustrated, triggering him to embark on fruitless adventures.

    “His latest permutations to unseat Tinubu in 2027: and the list of the Ex-presidents he had visited within a week is getting seriously alarming, even if he decided to visit either Saitan or Pharaoh,  nothing can change Almighty God’s decision on Tinubu.

    “His desperation to rule Nigeria has politically changed to a determination to set the country to a serious ethnic crisis.

    “I will always remind the former Vice President on his debate at Arewa House before the 2023 general election, where he publicly said the Northerners doesn’t need either Yorubas or Igbos to produce president

    “This is not the former Vice President we used to know. His behaviour of late has shown that he is ready to set the country on the part of anarchy in order to achieve his ambition,” Alawuje said.

  • Opposition politics: Atiku, Obi out do each other

    Opposition politics: Atiku, Obi out do each other

     Months ago, after they finally but grudgingly conceded defeat in the last presidential election, former vice president Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi announced to the world that each of them would be the main opposition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his All Progressives Congress (APC). True to their forecast, not to say their individualistic approach to politics, they have begun a dogfight to supplant each other as the leading opposition to the ruling party. Alhaji Atiku, former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was the first to unsheathe his sword last November barely weeks after his presidential bid was anticlimactically buried by the courts. In April, days after an opposition coalition defeated the ruling coalition in Senegal, and still presuming himself to be the chief galvaniser and anchor of the opposition in Nigeria, the former vice president advocated the formation of a coalition to unseat President Tinubu and the APC.

    Mr Obi, 62, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the last poll, would have none of that bragging or presumption. Believing himself to be younger and more vibrant than the 77 years old PDP leader, and convinced he had a captive force of belligerent and impudent social media warriors inelegantly labelled as Obidients, the former Anambra governor issued a fanciful war whoop early January pronouncing his readiness to assume the vacant leadership of the opposition. Having come third in the February 2023 presidential election, and having taken advantage of his ethnicity and the biases of many Christian enclaves, it was not immediately clear how he hoped to transcend his self-limiting politics or the geographical and demographic encumbrances he animated. Regardless of any reservations anyone might have and unbothered by the scornfulness of those who see him as a usurper, Mr Obi has shown incredible temerity in playing the lead character in his sophomoric playlet.

    Read Also: Atiku, El-Rufai, Kwankwaso won’t agree to contest with Peter Obi in 2027 – Omokri

    Now, the two leading politicians, with Alhaji Atiku easily the more recognisable before the fateful poll and Mr Obi the more scarified after the poll, have tried to outdo each other in unleashing verbal fusillade against the ruling party, particularly the president. The former vice president began the salvoes last November, and has ensured that neither the volume of his denunciations of the president nor the vitriol is diminished by time or space. Barely two weeks after the Supreme Court upheld President Tinubu’s election, Alhaji Atiku was at the barricades sounding the alarm about Nigeria sliding precipitously into dictatorship and one-party state. This was just five months after the president assumed office. Since then, the former vice president has guaranteed that there is no let-up in his attacks. His attacks do not always have to make sense; all he cares about is that they resonate with the people and flow spontaneously. And in light of the fuel subsidy removal crisis and the terrible divisions that have rent the polity since the elections, he knew that Nigerians were looking for scapegoats upon which to vent their spleens.

    In March, after bandits attacked Rafi LGA in Niger State, Alhaji Atiku exclaimed that Nigeria under President Tinubu had become a killing field. Before then, in January, he had also accused the president of ‘playing the fiddle while the country was drowning in an ocean of insecurity’. The attacks have been relentless for as long as the president has been in office. Relinquish office if the ‘shoe is too big for you,’ he had said in January, and in February he described the president as a ‘hypocrite’ for throwing former president Muhammadu Buhari ‘under the bus’ over the exchange rate volatility unnerving the country. In April, Alhaji Atiku also savaged the president over the Lagos-Calabar coastal road and questioned the integrity of his relationship with businessman Gilbert Chagoury, insisting that in the award of the contract, the president prioritised ‘personal business’ over government business. And about two weeks ago, he also denounced President Tinubu for allegedly lying about fuel subsidy, which he calculated might rise to N5.4trn from N3.6trn. Then he excoriated the president for recklessly taking loans without regard for transparency.

    Alhaji Atiku has found his rhythm in launching broadsides against the Tinubu administration. He will not relent. He will sustain the attacks until the PDP repudiates him as leader or candidate in the next poll, or he is spurned by any other coalition party he might conjure. But for as long as his chances of becoming a party’s standard-bearer remain bright, he will retain his bullishness and savour every word he flings at the enemy, every syllable, every shade of meaning. As far-reaching as he thinks his statements have been, and as effective as they seem in a country bifurcated with hunger and anguish, Mr Obi on the other hand appears confident he could do more damage than the former vice president in ladling boiling oil out of LP’s social media jar. Undoubtedly, he has connected with a few uppercuts. The only problem, however, is that his blows have no bigger impact than feather dusters, effeminate verbal blows that rely on homilies, wisecracks, and tenuous philosophies. Since he issued tentative statements about being the main face of the opposition in Nigeria, he has grown more confident in seeing himself as a potential candidate in the next poll. The only problem is that the next election is still some three years away, enough time to weaken imaginations, wreck reputations, undermine courage, and dissipate confidence.

    Indeed, both Alhaji Atiku and Mr Obi have one major political weakness: their insurmountable lack of capacity and depth in administering a political party. Mr Obi is of course the worse in this field, but the former vice president is also irredeemable. Founding a new party to practice what they preach is impossible for them. They do not have the time, and will not commit the money. Both gentlemen must, therefore, hope to sustain the PDP or LP, as the case may be, until 2027. Sustaining the LP till that time is almost impossible, assuming Mr Obi and his fractious and irascible group of followers can even muster the intellect and stamina. In the PDP, Alhaji Atiku is a philosophical outlier and a detached administrator and financier. The party’s top hats cast furtive glances at him, deprecate his opportunism, are galled by his constant electoral fiascos, and are superstitious about the jinxes that have dogged him for decades. But if against the run of play, he can coax the party to favour him, any contemplation of a coalition, as he has implied and even rhapsodised, will unleash a fierce undertow in the party. To then proceed, notwithstanding these apprehensions, into a coalition with Mr Obi will lead to an ineluctable diminution of their chances, with the North secretly anxious about a Southeast running mate to the ageing Alhaji Atiku, and the Igbo unable to rouse themselves into the kind of ecstasy that stoked their quest for the presidency under Mr Obi’s candidacy.

    Having tested their mettles separately in the last presidential poll and found themselves to be made of Teflon, Alhaji Atiku and Mr Obi have now probably recognised their limitations. In the past few months, they have found their niches in excoriating President Tinubu and the APC. To hope to go beyond those niches may be a futile attempt at reaching for the stars. They lack the spaceship, lack the engineering, and lack the skills. There is indeed a deep foreboding of what the next few years hold for the two gentlemen who seem better suited to running businesses in formless and unregulated environments than in playing politics or running a government.    

  • PHOTOS: Atiku visits Buhari at Daura residence

    PHOTOS: Atiku visits Buhari at Daura residence

    Atiku visits Buhari at Daura residence

    Read Also: JUST IN: Atiku visits Buhari at Daura residence

  • JUST IN: Atiku visits Buhari at Daura residence

    JUST IN: Atiku visits Buhari at Daura residence

    Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar has visited former President Muhammadu Buhari at his Daura residence.

    Atiku was with the former President in a viral video seen by The Nation correspondent.

    The former Vice President also paid a similar visit to former Heads of State; Gen. Ibrahim Babaginda and Gen. Abdulsalam at their residences in Niger State on Wednesday, June 19.

    Details shortly…